Model 1871 Bayonet Unit Marking

[IrishGunner]

Wife found a couple antique stores not too far away that we had never visited; so, with a nice warm day for February on the Bay, we put the top down on her convertible and went to check them out.  Overall, pretty much uninteresting stuff, but I did find a Model 1871 bayonet hidden among a bunch of fraternal Knights of Columbus swords.  It was in great condition, including the leather on the scabbard.  Unfortunately, I was unable to snap any photos. 

It was marked W74 with crown on the spine and Weyersberg Kirschbaum & Co Solingen on the blade.  The bayonet itself had no unit marking.  However, on the scabbard was "L.E. 5.161"  My guess is Landwehr Ersatz Regiment Nr. 5, Gewehr 161.  But shouldn't there be a company number too? 

Any ideas?

These images are from the internet, but are exactly the one's on the subject bayonet:

[Chip]

I haven't looked yet in Noll's markings book, but just a thought that it might be Landsturm and therefore the number may be the Brigade. Landsturm were not normally differentiated by company numbers.

Chip

[IrishGunner]

Thanks, Chip, I would appreciate reading what the books have to say since I have nothing to reference.

[Chip]

According to Nolls' book, it turns out, there is only one possibility for this marking. If the "L" is a block "L" and not a script "L".

Immobile-Landwehr-Eisenbahn-Baukompanie

There are two other "L.E." abbreviations, but both are Ersatz Bataillonen of infantry regiments and normally there was only one (two at the most) per regiment in wartime. 

 

[IrishGunner]

Definitely a block L. So a very unusual unit. Too bad the bayonet wasn't marked too...